Spaceman Bill

Victor Kelleher was born in London and came to Australia in 1976 via Africa and New Zealand. After an academic career he now writes both children’s and adults’ novels full- time. His novels for Random House include JOHNNY WOMBAT, TO THE DARK TOWER, DEL- DEL and BEYOND THE DUSK. Victor has been shortlisted for many awards including the Australian Children’s Book of the Year Award and the Australian Science Fiction Achievement Award. He remains one of Australia’s most celebrated authors. With a host of award-winning, internationally published novels to his credit, Victor Kelleher remains one of Australia’s most celebrated writers for both adults and children. Born in London, he lived in Africa for twenty years, before moving to New Zealand where he began to write, prompted by homesickness for Africa. He moved to Australia in 1976. Victor’s first book for young people was Forbidden Paths of Thual and since then his novels have received many awards and commendations. His prizes have included the Australian Children’s Book of the Year Award and the Australian Science Fiction Achievement Award. Some of Victor’s earlier titles are Parkland (shortlisted for the 1995 Australian Children’s Book of the Year Award Older Readers) and its sequels, Earthsong and Fire Dancer (also shortlisted for the 1997 Australian Children’s Book of the Year Award Older Readers). Formerly an associate professor, Victor Kelleher now works full time as a writer from his home in northern NSW. His latest books include Dog Boy for young adults, and Born of the Sea for adults. Victor’s other Aussie Nibbles are What Dino Saw and The Gorilla Suit, both illustrated by Stephen Michael King.

Craig Smith has an excellent track record as a children’s book illustrator. He first teamed with Gary Crew to provide a remarkable interpretation of Troy Thompson’s Excellent Peotry Book and Troy Thompson’s Radical Prose Folio. His more recent awards include CBC Honour Book: Younger Readers (1999) for Bob the Builder and the Elves, Shortlisted CBC Book of the Year: Younger Readers for Billy the Punk (1996) and Shortlisted CBC for Not Again, Dad by Thurley Fowler (1995). Craig has also recently illustrated the Paul Jennings titles: The Cabbage Patch Fib and The Cabbage Patch War, and Sniffy the Sniffer Dog (Lothian Books, 2003) in Lothian’s Start-Ups series.